Conceptual project in China's Yunnan Province proposes an ecologically integrated model for rural early childhood education

Greenterrace Kindergarten, a conceptual educational project designed by lead architectural designers Chen Yang and Liwei Guo, has been named the Jury Winner in the Institutional – Unbuilt (Schools & Kindergartens) category of the 2026 Architizer A+Awards. Organized by Architizer, one of the world's leading architecture platforms, the A+Awards recognizes excellence in architecture and design across a wide range of categories. In each category, a panel of experts selects five finalists before choosing a single Jury Winner, recognizing the project considered the strongest submission based on design quality, innovation and overall contribution to the discipline.

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Set within the terraced agricultural landscape of Yunnan Province, China, Greenterrace Kindergarten reimagines the relationship between education, architecture and the rural environment. The proposal combines classrooms, activity areas, rooftop play spaces, farmers' rest areas and ecological learning platforms into a continuous architectural landscape inspired by the region's stepped rice terraces.

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

The layered, curving design encourages children to engage with local agriculture, seasonal cycles and everyday community life, positioning the building as both an educational facility and a shared public space.

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Environmental sustainability is embedded throughout the project. Passive ventilation, solar energy generation, mist irrigation and stormwater reuse are integrated into the design to reduce environmental impact while supporting hands-on ecological education. These systems are intended to make environmental awareness a visible and interactive part of children's daily learning experience.

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

The project was recognized for its contribution to contemporary educational architecture, demonstrating how design can strengthen ecological literacy, preserve cultural identity and support community resilience in rural settings.

Photo credit: Chen Yang, Liwei Guo

Chen Yang and Liwei Guo

Chen Yang and Liwei Guo are architectural designers whose work explores the intersection of cultural context, spatial experience, ecological design, and community-oriented architecture. Their projects engage with questions of landscape, public life, adaptive use, and the social role of design across different scales and environments. Through research-driven and context-sensitive design, they continue to develop innovative architectural proposals that address environmental responsibility, cultural continuity, and the evolving needs of contemporary communities.